UPDATE 6 November:

With extra work added and schedules changed, Wellington drivers need to be up to speed for planned road works on State Highway 1 near Johnsonville next week.

There will be a closure of the Johnsonville southbound off-ramp on Monday night, (10 November), between 9 pm and 4 am for important infrastructure work. 

Contractors will be replacing a section of faulty fibre optic cable. This cable is a critical piece of the highway’s communications network and connects electronic signs, lane control devices, and cameras on the route. As such, the fix is both urgent and essential.

The offramp closure will affect southbound drivers needing to get into Johnsonville. They will need to continue south on State Highway 1 to the Ngauranga Interchange and then turn back north on State Highway 1 to take the Johnsonville northbound offramp. This detour will require extra travel time.

These repairs have also changed the schedule for the southbound closure of State Highway 1 at Johnsonville – this was originally planned for Monday to Thursday nights (10-13 November).

It will now happen on Tuesday to Thursday nights (11-13 November) instead. The closure hours will remain the same, 9 pm to 4:30 am. There will be no closure of this route on Monday night (10 November).

Work schedule and detour map (Johnsonville offramp closure):

• Monday 10 November. 9pm – 4am.
  • SH1 Johnsonville southbound offramp CLOSED
  • Traffic needing to access Johnsonville should travel south to the Ngauranga Interchange, turn, and then head north to the Johnsonville northbound onramp.

Updated work schedule (SH1 Johnsonville southbound closure):

Works schedule and detour route

• Tuesday 11 November to Thursday 13 November. 9pm to 4:30am (traffic management to be set up from 7pm)
  • SH1 CLOSED to southbound traffic between the Johnsonville southbound off-ramp and the Johnsonville southbound on-ramp.
  • SH1 will remain OPEN for northbound traffic
  • Local road detour for all traffic available via Johnsonville Road. Short delays can be expected.
  • This work is weather-dependent, and schedules may change if bad weather occurs.

4 November:

One of Wellington’s most critical transport links is scheduled for critical maintenance work next week as part of the ongoing state highway summer maintenance programme.

Nightworks are planned for State Highway 1 and its southbound lanes near Johnsonville next week.

The highway will be closed to southbound traffic on Monday to Thursday nights next week (10-13 November), between 9 pm and 4:30 am.

The closure will be in place between the Johnsonville southbound off-ramp and the Johnsonville southbound on-ramp. 

A local road detour will be available for all traffic, including heavy vehicles, via Johnsonville Road. 

The work is scheduled at night, when traffic volumes are lower, to minimise delays for drivers. However, the detour will require additional travel time, so drivers heading into Wellington should allow extra time for their journey while this maintenance work is underway.

Contractors will be conducting general maintenance work on the highway, clearing litter, replacing edge markers, and completing drainage works. 

The drainage improvements are to prevent water pooling on the highway, which poses a safety hazard to drivers and increases the risk of potholes.

Due to the amount of work planned, it is quicker and more efficient to complete it using a southbound lane closure. This allows work crews to finish their tasks faster, reducing the overall impact on traffic.

This is essential maintenance work and ensures the highway is kept safe and reliable for the public. Drivers are asked to  follow all detours and traffic management controls in place while this work is underway – it is there to keep the public and roadworkers safe.

Works schedule and detour route

• Monday 10 November to Thursday 13 November. 9pm to 4:30am (traffic management to be set up from 7pm)
• SH1 CLOSED to southbound traffic between the Johnsonville southbound off-ramp and the Johnsonville southbound on-ramp.
• Local road detour for all traffic available via Johnsonville Road. Short delays can be expected.
• This work is weather-dependent, and schedules may change if bad weather occurs.